Casio intros slimmer 8.1MP Exilim Zoom

Casio today took advantage of the quiet camera market for the launch of the EX-Z9, a new entry model for its Exilim Zoom series. The 8.1-megapixel camera is said to be more portable than previous Exilims in the category and now has 23 separate Best Shot presets that fine-tune the settings without requiring an experienced user; as with past models, the Z9 also has a fully automatic Easy Mode that takes control of all settings except for flash use, resolution, and the timer.

The Z9 comes with face detection, blur reduction through software, and a YouTube-friendly video capture mode for concerts and other events. The camera will be ready later this month in black, orange, pink, and silver hues and should sell for about $160.